Beijing, Year of the Snake — Millions of Chinese celebrated the first day of the Spring Festival on Wednesday by flocking to cinemas, propelling box office sales to unprecedented heights. As of 4:23 p.m., China's box office revenue during the holiday, including pre-sold tickets, had surpassed 2 billion yuan (over $276 million), according to box office tracker Dengta Data.
The surge is driven by the release of six highly anticipated films: 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero,' 'Ne Zha 2,' 'Detective Chinatown 1900,' 'Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force,' 'Operation Hadal,' and 'Boonie Bears: Future Reborn.' Remarkably, the first four titles each exceeded 200 million yuan in pre-sale ticket sales, marking the most successful pre-sale period in history.
This year's Spring Festival lineup offers a rich tapestry of genres and themes, catering to a wide spectrum of audience preferences. Departing from last year's focus on comedies and dramas, the current selection spans mythology, epic tales, war stories, action-packed adventures, martial arts, animation, comedy, and science fiction.
Moviegoers are thrilled with the variety. Li Hua, a resident of Shanghai, shared her excitement: \"There's something for everyone this year. It's a fantastic way to celebrate the holiday with family and friends.\"
Cinema operators are equally optimistic. Zhang Wei, manager of a major theater in Beijing, noted, \"We're seeing record attendance. The diverse film offerings have truly energized audiences across the nation.\"
The record-breaking box office performance reflects the vitality of China's film industry and the enthusiasm of its audiences. As the Spring Festival continues, industry insiders anticipate that the momentum will carry on, setting new benchmarks for future holidays.
Reference(s):
China's Spring Festival holiday box office tops $276 million
cgtn.com
